Harriers back US troops on ground

The US Marine Corps has been using its British-designed Harrier II jump-jets against the Taliban in Afghanistan for the first time.

The Harrier, hugely popular with the Marines, is a close-support aircraft with a relatively short range, and this suggests the Marines now have refuelling bases well established inside Afghanistan itself.

Deputy Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace, himself a Marine, confirmed last night that the Harriers had been supporting Marine units on the ground in Afghanistan.

Rallying support for the anti-terrorism coalition, President Bush praised close allies like Britain and France, but said some others should talk less and do more. "A coalition partner must do more than just express sympathy, a coalition partner must perform," he said as he greeted France's President Chirac in Washington.

Mr Bush and his Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said the number of US special forces had doubled in the past week to nearly 200, a figure they hoped would double again soon.

The use of the US Marine Corps Harriers has raised eyebrows in Washington, as it means a major development in allied ground operations in Afghanistan. Challenged about the aircraft's short range and relaltively light bomb load, General Pace told journalists: "They're very capable aircraft. They do carry a good bomb load. They are refuellable and they've got some great pilots."

The AV8B Harrier is the American supersonic version of the original British Sea and ground attack harriers used in the Falklands campaign. They are controversial because of their short range, about 600 miles, but the US Marines love them and their order virtually kept the Harrier project alive.

The deployment of US Harriers could mean that their British equivalents, the RAF GR7 and even the naval FA2, could be called into similar action in the coming months. Both have been deployed in the recent exercises in Oman, and have been based aboard the carrier HMS Illustrious, currently leading the British task group of 11 vessels in the Arabian Sea for duties in Afghanistan. The company-of 238 Royal Marines from 40 Commando are now training aboard Illustrious and the assault ship HMS Fearless with units of the special forces, the SAS and Special Boat Squadron. They will link up soon with 150 Australian SAS currently based in Diego Garcia.

Mr Bush has asked the allies for a greater contribution of special forces. Britain has already deployed a few hundred from all services, virtually all the forces it can spare. France has announced that it has 2,000 military personnel already on operations for Afghanistan. Britain has well over 4,000 - mostly with the naval task group and RAF refeuelling and reconnaissance aircraft.

Yesterday Germany announced that it was sending 3,900 forces, including leading elements of the special forces from the frontier police.